FWIW, years ago I DID buy a car without driving it (I rode in it while a trustworthy friend who knew stick drove). Yes, I bought a car and THEN learned how to drive stick shift. IIRC I had $3000 to spend so I had to figure out how to get the most bang for my buck, so a 1978 Honda Accord (when they were teeny compacts) was it.

It worked out fine, and I had the car for 8 years until it died of body rust.

Yeah, I've done it too and it worked out okay. But it is a gamble.

I once taught someone to drive stick after he bought a stick shift car. I remember he killed the engine at stop lights regularly, and then yelled at the drivers getting impatient behind him.

When it came time to teach Tony, I took him to an empty parking lot late at night. So nobody cared when he killed the engine.

Internet and phone went out at 8:45. Guess who's sitting at Panera, trying to work? Library doesn't open until noon.

I miss the knowledge of driving stick. But I think part of me bristles at the (not here) subtext that it's for "real" people, or it's what "real driving" is about. Why do people do that? Is it just because it's harder?

(When I learnt to drive the second time, it was automatic. The first time, almost ten years later, was stick shift. I was good enough with it to be ready to test, just circumstances conspired to prevent me from taking it. Initially driving automatic felt weird, like there weren't enough things to centre me on the fact that I was driving and it made me worry that I could zone out, but complex processes can become automatic (API) too--it just takes a little more time.)

I'm sorry the migraine knocked you out, Suzi. Somehow I feel responsibility when other people get migraines, like they're mine to dole out or deny.

All regard § ita § and despair. Or at least burrow under a pile of blankets in a quiet room.

eta: The second time I learnt manual it was in a parking lot. The second time I learnt to drive, it was at 5am through the suburbs. That was effective, even if my aunt working charts (doctor) during didn't inspire me with feels of safety.

I'm sorry the migraine knocked you out, Suzi. Somehow I feel responsibility when other people get migraines, like they're mine to dole out or deny.

Whereas when I get one, I hoping I'm drawing migraine pain away from you, giving you some relief.

I feel a lot better this morning, though now my sinuses want to get in on the act. I fly out to SLC this evening for two days of work. Silly me didn't book the hotel across the street from the office but my usual hotel which is a couple of blocks away. My foot is much better but this will be the first big test, I guess. Taking a taxi two blocks would be ridiculous, right?

Not ridiculous if your foot hurts.

I miss driving stick. It's how I learned to drive and, to me, just more fun. Not enough to motivate me to buy a different car, though.

I hoping I'm drawing migraine pain away from you, giving you some relief.

Aww, that's nice. Don't take it all on, though! I'm a trained professional on a closed track.

When does Elementary come back? I miss it.

I think I was supposed to see it coming that my unemployment just ran out, but I didn't. So ... that happened.

When does Elementary come back?

This week. They were filming on my steet recently.